Top 10 Flea Myths

                                                                       

Think you know about fleas and their impact on your pet? Read these common myths to test your knowledge.

 

1.  Myth:  A few fleas are no big deal!

Reality:  You’ve heard the expression “breeding like rabbits”?  Well, rabbits have nothing on fleas-a few fleas can turn into a massive infestation in a hurry.  And if your pet is sensitive to flea antigen, even one or two bites can make him very uncomfortable.  Your pet deserves to be completely free of fleas.

 

2.  Myth:  Pets need flea preventive only a few months out of the year.

Reality:  In many warm, humid areas, fleas thrive year round.  Even in more seasonal climates, a warm spring or fall can extend the flea season to nine to 10 months of the year.  Plus, fleas can survive on your pet and inside anywhere!  Year-round flea control is best for your pet.

 

3.     Myth:  I’ve never seen a flea on my pet, so she doesn’t need flea control. 

Reality:  You may be in flea denial!  Just because you don’t see fleas, doesn’t mean that they aren’t there.  Our staff can use a special comb to detect fleas and their waste, so ask us to do this if we haven’t already.  Even if your pet’s clean, she can pick up fleas at any time, so it’s a good idea to protect her.

 

4.  Myth:  I can get good flea products at the pet store.

 

Reality:  Over-the-counter flea control products are not as potent and therefore, not as effective as the prescription products you can get from veterinarians.  Some are even toxic, especially if administered incorrectly.  We can prescribe the best product for your pet and his lifestyle (does he swim? hunt rodents?) and show you exactly how to apply it.

 

5.  Myth:  Once I treat my pet and the fleas go away, my work is done.  

Reality:  One of the biggest mistakes pet owners make is to stop giving a flea product after the fleas go away.  One of the reasons you need to provide continuous control is this:  Pets can become ultrasensitive to fleas if they’re intermittently exposed.  In other words, if you notice fleas, treat them, and three months later they come back, and then you treat them again and three months later they come back again, your pet is more likely to develop flea allergy dermatitis- a miserable condition that causes itchiness, lesions, and hair loss.  Don’t let the fleas come back at all, and your pet is at a much lower risk for flea allergy. 

 

6.  Myth:  I only need to treat my one flea-ridden pet, not the other pets in my household.

Reality:  All pets in your household need to be treated- especially the cats (fleas’ favorite host), and even the guinea pig.  Some pets are more sensitive to fleas than others, so if you treat only the pet that’s scratching, she’s likely to be reinfested by other pets that also have fleas but aren’t giving you any itchy signals.

 

7.  Myth:  I can’t afford to give a flea preventive monthly.

Reality:  Can you afford to change your oil in your car to keep it running smoothly and help cut down on expensive repairs?  Providing preventive health measures for your pet is that same approach.  Compared to the stress and cost of treating flea-related illnesses- and possibly paying someone to decontaminate your home-monthly control is a low-cost alternative.  If you can’t afford to pay for a year’s worth at a time, ask us about purchasing single doses.

 

8.  Myth:  My pet stays in the back yard, so he won’t pick up fleas.

Reality:  Your yard is constantly being visited by wildlife such as raccoons and opossums, as well as other neighborhood pets (cats are notorious roamers).  These animals can spread fleas and flea eggs, which can infest your pet when he goes outside.

 

9.  Myth:  All flea preventives protect pets from fleas only.

Reality:  Flea products are often combined with agents that control other parasites as well, helping protect your pets from additional diseases-some of which can be transmitted to you.  So keeping pets on flea control is best for the whole family.

 

10.  Myth:  Flea products are toxic!

 

Reality:  Unlike “natural” products, prescription flea control agents have been extensively tested and approved by the FDA.  Delphos Animal Hospital Veterinarians and staff members use these products on their own pets, and they can answer any questions you have about safety.

“I Don’t Always Bark, But When I Do…I Bark For Life!”

 

 

                 

                                 I want to make one point perfectly clear.  I do NOT have cancer, nor do I want to have cancer.  However, cancer has touched my life… in more ways than one.  For those who know me well, or even not so well, you probably know at least one fact about me.  I am passionate about “Finishing the Fight” against cancer.  In the spring of 2013 I found a way to combine my love of caring for pets and their people with my passion to prevent and cure cancers in both, through the Delphos Relay for Life mini-relay, “Bark for Life.”

                                The first question I am commonly asked is “What is Bark for Life?”  According to the American Cancer Society, “Bark for Life is a fundraising event honoring the life-long contributions of our Canine Caregivers.  It presents an opportunity for people to be empowered through their canine companion partnerships and to contribute to cancer cures thorough the mission of the American Cancer Society (ACS).”

                                More specifically, I would define the Delphos Bark for Life as a fun, easy way to raise money for the ACS by collecting donations from friends, family members, co-workers, business associates and even people you do not know, to take your dog(s) for a walk in beautiful , shady Leisure Park on a lovely, summer day in the middle of June.  And, to top it off, you get to enjoy FREE ice cream provided by Delphos’ Creamery, FREE brats and hotdogs grilled by cancer survivor Pam Wade, and a FREE pedicure for your  dog(s) courtesy of Elida Dog Grooming…all for an advanced  registration fee  of  $10.00 per dog!

                                Another question I am commonly asked is “Why?”  Why am I passionate about Bark for Life and why do I rally for Relay for Life?  When I first introduced the Bark for Life concept to my staff, I asked them to ask themselves “Who among us has not been touched by cancer?”  Several of my employees have lost parents or other relatives to cancer, and currently, one employee has a daughter fighting for her life and another just lost a sister because of cancer diagnoses.

                                More personally, my father died of oat cell carcinoma of his lungs, my husband’s father succumbed to lymphoma, and his maternal uncle lost a battle to leukemia.  With these loved ones in mind, why wouldn’t I rally?  Sadly, odds are that when we are rallying, the life we all may be fighting for could be our own, as cancer does not discriminate! 

                                Those who have attended the Delphos Bark for Life in the past would agree that it is not only a walk in the park for a great cause with your canine family member, but also a really good time in the company of other dog lovers.  You will enjoy seeing people smile as dogs congregate with tails wagging, eager for a walk and something new to stimulate them.

                                So, Delphos Bark for Life is something I AM passionate about because I have seen its success in raising almost $18,000 in just two years.  Delphos area ACS representatives have shared with me that my Delphos Bark for Life team has been a leader for the entire state of Ohio for funds raised and increasing awareness for this growing fundraiser.  I will be the first to sing the praises of my Delphos Animal Hospital staff family, as they have been phenomenal in their efforts to make Bark for Life a highly successful event for the Delphos Relay for Life.

                                By education and profession, I am a scientist.  I have learned and I believe that cancer is a mistake.  It is the result of a rogue cell in our bodies that gets away with murder. We need and must discover ways to stop or change these rogue cells, and turn them into cancer fighters instead.  Research funding is the key to turning the “bad guy” cells in to “good guys.” Cancer studies today are highly sophisticated and increasingly successful, but the need for them is never-ending, as cancer knows no boundaries.

                                I hope this gives you an understanding of why I am passionate about involving dogs in ACS fundraising through Bark for Life.  Please know that dogs and people are in cancer trials together and that canines DO benefit from cancer research as well.  In addition, I have surveyed cancer survivors as to how their pets helped them in their fight and their responses are always the same:  dogs demonstrate unconditional love, bring  joy and security, and they do not judge.  In short, just as cancer doesn’t discriminate, dogs don’t either.

                                Will we see you and your dog at Delphos Bark for Life? 

 

By Dr. Bonnie Jones                            

           

 

 

 

The Lesson of Barack Orama

                                             

            Until Barack Orama was born, I had never raised anything other than white Southdown lambs. He changed that, if you haven’t already guessed. As for his name, I hope it doesn’t offend anyone because I know at least a few readers are fans of his namesake. I also know that a good deal more are not. But with a brother named Joe, and being a ram, what else was I going to call him?

            I was present for Barack’s birth. As the seemingly lifeless lamb emerged from his mother, all slimy and black, my first reaction was, “Uh-oh, this can’t be good.” I had seen dark lambs like this before, and it usually meant they had been dead for quite awhile. A brief pause and vigorous shake later, however, little Barack was very much alive.

            My next concern was the ewe. Although this was her fourth lambing, she didn’t exactly earn “mother of the year” honors on her first go-round, and probably would have been on my infamous “list”, had my wife’s husband not paid way too much money for her own mother. The last two years she’s done a great job with her lambs; my anxiety this time stemmed from wondering how she would bond to the uniquely shaded baby. Happily, she never missed a lick, for Barack, or his older brother, Joe, and seemed to love both equally.

Two days later, the family was moved to a larger pen containing three other ewes and their lambs, and I witnessed a behavior I hadn’t seen before. Instantly and in unison, the heads and ears of all three ewes went up, and their front legs went rigid into “stomp-mode.” I imagine they saw in Barack a dog or coyote. Fortunately, this passed within a few seconds when they realized he was not, and there were no more incidents.

That’s not to say Barack’s early days were all “kumbaya.” After Barack and his family were released into what I call the “general population” of ewes and lambs, he kept to himself, and didn’t interact and form friendships with non-sibling lambs like so many of them do. At night, most of the lambs would lounge in the corners of the pen, often two or three deep, making skin contact to stay warm. Barack never did that. I found this odd, and as it was early March and still dreadfully cold, also sad.

Those feelings evaporated a few mornings later. While rounding a gate-post during chore-time, I was nearly run over by a romping band of lambs led by young Mr. Orama. Apparently, with familiarity came acceptance, and Barack was now just one of the pack, except I always knew who he was, no eartags required.

  So where did Barack get the black wool? From his parents, of course, and the intricacies of genetics. Wool genetics, with many natural colors, plus patterns such as spots and facial stripes, is a complicated and mind-boggling science. Yet, a solid black lamb like Barack is the result of a simple recessive gene, one inherited from each parent.

If you recall from biology class, a gene is the basic unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring. Located on a chromosome, a gene is actually a distinct sequence of building blocks called nucleotides. It is thought that 3.2 billion of these nucleotides make up the human genome. I’m not sure how many make up the sheep genome, but since sheep have 54 chromosomes compared to the human 46, there’s likely to be as many, if not more. It is the specific order of these nucleotides that make every living thing what it is. A change in\the sequence of even one can produce dramatic effects, such as making what should have been a white lamb have black wool.         

When studied at the molecular level, the genetic differences which made Barack look like Barack, and Joe look like all the other lambs, are infinitesimally small. The traits they share as brothers and sheep vastly exceed those which set them apart.                                                                                                                                                                                                     

            People are a lot like that, too. It has been estimated that we humans share 99.9% of our genetic material. What this means is that in spite of all our various shapes and sizes, skin colors, hair colors, eye colors, and, perhaps, even choice of partner, the things we have in common far, far outweigh any differences between us.

 

By Dr. John H. Jones

To Breed or Not To Breed, That Is the Question

             

                       

                        Caring for pets is my life work. My daily aspiration is to educate pet owners about providing compassionate and loving care to their pets to insure that all pets live long and, most importantly, healthy lives. One area that requires constant education by all veterinarians is controlling the pet population.  Unfortunately, my career aspiration will never be entirely successful because there will always be pet owners who breed pets that should not be bred. 

            Call it a pet peeve, but nothing annoys me more as a veterinarian than individuals who choose to breed their pets without a good reason for doing so.  I’ve heard the full gamut of reasons: “I want my children to experience the miracle of birth” or “he’s such a great pet that we want another one just like him,” and my all time favorite, “we want to breed her because she has ‘papers.’” 

            I respond to these comments by suggesting that pet owners and their children visit an overcrowded animal rescue facility to witness the end results of “the miracle of birth” and indiscriminate or “casual pet breeding.”  Attempts to reproduce that “amazing pet” often result in disappointment as the offspring fail to live up to expectations.  Oh yes,  then there’s the issue of the pet being purebred and having (registration) “papers;” did you know that even registered pets often have congenital defects or are descendents of ancestors with multiple defects? 

            The duty of a pet breeder is to improve the breed’s genetics, not to contribute to its defects.  With this in mind, any pet owner who is considering breeding a pet should consult a veterinarian and a breed expert to determine if the pet in question is a good candidate for breeding.  Pets should have hip x-rays to identify hip dysplasia (a malformation of the hip joint), a thorough eye exam and blood tests for hypothyroidism or other specific breed diseases prior to considering breeding. 

            I also like to remind pet owners who are considering breeding their pets that once a litter is born, you, the pet owner, are directly responsible for every member of that litter for its entire lifespan.  That means that any pet adopted out by you should be returned to you if the new owner is unable or unwilling to properly care for it, since that pet is on this earth because you chose for its birth to happen.  While some may think this reasoning is a little strong, I see it as an important responsibility. 

            Casual pet breeders are often struck by the reality that raising newborn pets is a lot of work, especially if the offspring require orphan rearing.  Weaning is another time when the pet owner’s workload multiplies, as very young animals take great effort to keep clean and content.  All too often young pets are weaned too early and then adopted out at an inappropriately early age because the pet owners are no longer interested in attending to them.  Sadly, young animals that are weaned too early or separated from their littermates prematurely are the same pets that later occupy animal shelters because their temperaments are often poor. 

            Who should breed pets then?  The best pet breeders are thoroughly educated about acceptable breed and health standards and the breeding process. Consulting a veterinarian as well as a mentor for your pet’s breed (an experienced, reputable breeder) is essential prior to making the decision to breed a pet.  Furthermore, there is never a good reason to breed a crossbred pet---intentionally or otherwise.   

            Please consider the decision to breed your pet carefully.  Pets that are never bred, but instead are neutered prior to the onset of puberty, experience great health and behavioral advantages. If you are considering creating more pets, I would ask you to ponder adopting a deserving, homeless shelter pet instead.

 

 

By Dr. Bonnie Jones

Suns Out Guns Out - Keeping Your Pet Healthy in Warm Weather

     

   "Suns out guns out" is a saying on a muscle t-shirt for sale at Kohl's, providing for the summer wardrobe needs of today's vain gentleman. Seeing this colorful (yet grammatically incorrect) shirt on the sales rack gives me a glimmer of hope. It reminds me that summer is coming. There are brighter times coming just around the corner. Winter is behind us. Spring is upon us. Summer is knocking at the door. These are good days indeed.

         These are also days where we not only have to start transitioning our personal wardrobe and start spring cleaning but we also think about our family's safety during these upcoming hot and sunny months. This should include preparing for our pet's care as well.

         Recently, I was out doing yard work for the first big landscaping project of the season – weeding, edging, tilling, etc. While doing yard work I normally allow my little dog, Marty McFly, to supervise. Marty enjoys lying out and sunning himself while I do all the work. But Marty also sunburns easily. Yes, he has fur, but he also has a very naked belly which I protect with low SPF sunblock to prevent a nasty sunburn each time we are out in the sun.

          Marty also seems to have a hypersensitivity to my lawn. He breaks out with intense itching the day after yard work if I don't make him stay off of the grass. This itching can lead to secondary skin infections, so that means that my dog gets to lie out on a beach towel with sunscreen on a regular basis.

          Admittedly, most people don't have a sensitive little flower for a dog like I do. However, it is still important to keep our pets' needs in mind as the good weather brings with it specific health risks and concerns.

         Among other things, nice weather carries with it increasing pollen counts, which can cause allergic reactions in dogs and cats. Our pets don't often have the itchy, watery eyes and sneezing that pollens cause in humans with hayfever or seasonal allergies. Instead, our pets often exhibit seasonal allergies with flare ups of skin diseases – hair loss, itching, licking, ear problems and skin infections. Itchy dogs and cats are commonly seen in our veterinary clinics beginning this time of year.

          Insects and spiders can also cause allergic reactions in our pets. These reactions can happen quickly, just as in people who have allergies to bee stings or spider bites. Facial swelling, difficulty breathing, hives or skin lesions at the site of a sting or bite are all worthy of medical attention on the part of the owner. I always recommend that owners have a supply of Benadryl (or generic diphenhydramine) in their first aid kits. Benadryl is not only good to relieve some allergic reactions in human family members, but it is also often useful for our pets' medical emergencies.

          Good temperatures and sunny days also tend to bring about an increase in the number of what we in the veterinary world call "HBCs"(or "Hit By Car"s). Dogs and cats tend to roam more when the temperatures are nicer. It's likely due to the influence of "springtime love hormones," plus the fact that the lack of harsh climates tend to encourage Fido to keep going instead of returning home and seeking shelter. Unfortunately, these runaway pets often end up on the side of the road. Keeping your pets within securely fenced-in yards, on leashes or even on safe tie outs can help keep your pet safer and out of the emergency room.

          So while planning your summer activities, make sure to keep your pets' safety in mind along with the rest of the family. They rely on you for many things to help them stay healthy and safe throughout the whole year.　There are sure signs that summer is finally near - the grass is turning green, the days are lasting longer, and Marty McFly can be seen kicking back on his beach blanket on the lawn.　Marty's out, party's out!

By Dr. Marisa Tong

The Life of a Princess By Dr. John H. Jones

                                       

                         For years we kept on our refrigerator an old “Peanuts” comic strip.  Charlie Brown says to Snoopy, “What would you say if I told you I was going to devote the rest of my life to making you happy?  We’ll go for long walks in the woods and romp around in the yard.  You’ll sit in my lap and I’ll scratch your ears, and we’ll watch TV and I’ll give you cookies.” 

                        To which Snoopy replies, “What kind of cookies?”  That in a nutshell was the essence of our little Welsh Corgi, “Bunny.” 

                        She was known to many of her friends and fans as “Princess Bunny.”  Maybe because of my own Welsh roots, I was never completely comfortable with that royal title and usually referred to her as “The Bun.”  And I think she liked that.                     

                         But, the title certainly suited her. Unlike our Border Collies whose goal in life is to be eternally busy and devoted to their sheep herding “job”, Princess Bunny never really cared much for work, even though Corgis are technically a herding breed. 

                        Why work when you can beg?  She did that quite well, probably because she was very, very cute---“too cute for words,” according to her Aunt Cindy.  Although I loved her dearly, in a world of givers and takers, Bunny was a bit of a taker---a taker of treats and affection, and a stealer of hearts.  Somewhat aloof at times, if a treat was involved, she quickly became your best friend.  She was generous in her appreciation, too, and would reward her benefactor with multiple “low fives.”  Being a Corgi, "high fives" just weren't possible. 

                        Like many princesses, Bunny also had a royal carriage, my wife’s Honda Pilot, and relished the heated seat as they rode back and forth to work every day.  She never lost touch with the common man, though, and was always up for a ride in the “big truck,” where she liked to stretch her long Corgi body on the pick-up’s bench seat.

                        Bunny made a yearly pilgrimage to Mrs. Wiechart’s first grade class at Franklin Elementary School where she was a hit with the kids.  She was even a “Children’s Best Friend” at the Delphos Public Library, and was awarded a certificate for that. And. the Women in Science Conference held at Premcor Refinery was frequented several times by “Bunny in Science.” Like another Princess of Wales, Diana, Bunny was a splendid goodwill ambassador.  I guess she did have a job after all.

                        One day last April, Bunny wasn’t herself.  Somewhat sluggish, she didn’t do her usual dive into breakfast. Having parents with ready access to a blood chemistry machine meant a serum profile was in order. 

                        Bunny had been hypothyroid for years, and a liver enzyme (ALT) had been elevated for quite some time, but she showed no ill effects from either.  A test taken a month earlier revealed no major changes.  The results of this new test, however, caught us completely off-guard, and not in a good way. 

                        Bunny was in kidney failure.  Her creatinine value, an amino acid used to monitor renal function, was substantially high.  This was an instantaneous, slap-in-the face realization that our precious little dog was going to die. 

                        But, that didn’t mean we were going to let her go without a fight---especially her mother, “The Bon.”  Yes, that could be confusing. 

                        Possible causes were considered and explored, a plethora of tests run, and every known treatment tried.  Bunny lost no weight during this time, and continued to look good, and act, for the most part, like her old princess self. 

                        Bunny maintained this vigor because of her mother’s steadfast devotion to her diet, constantly tweaking her protein and carbohydrate sources to keep her interested in eating.  One more meal meant one more day.  We knew we were losing the battle, though, as her creatinine values kept creeping up, in spite of Bonnie’s efforts.

                        Euthanasia is something my wife and I deal with virtually every day, and we are constantly impressed by the courage, dignity, and grace shown by our clients when they make this difficult and painful decision.  We, too, have had to make this decision for some of our own pets, but even the thought of doing that to Bunny was heartbreaking and inconceivable. 

                        Early one Monday morning in January, that decision was taken from us.  At 3:20 a.m. we were awakened by a single gasp, and Bunny was gone.  The little princess, who took so much of our hearts (and our treats), at the very end of her life, gave us a great gift. 

                        So what kind of cookies?  Whatever kind she wanted.  She was really cute.

 

 The Lima News- March 6, 2011

The Delphos Herald- March 15, 2011

Prevent Pet Poisonings With These Easy Tips By Dr. Bonnie Jones

                             

                               “Emma” and “Beans” are delightful Boston Terriers.  At nine years old, one would assume they are living the quiet life in their senior period.  Not so…these two “terrier terrorists” still get into trouble, especially Emma, who likes to test her “stomach of steel.”

                                Like in the movie “Home Alone,” when pets are unattended, the “games” begin.  Such was the case for Emma and Beans.  While they were “home alone,” they discovered a healthy human snack in the form of chocolate yogurt-flavored raisins.   Unfortunately, this nutritious people treat can be deadly for pets.

                                Upon returning home, the dogs’ owner, Jo, made an unsettling discovery about her raisins and called for veterinary advice.  Her observation of a bloated, uncomfortable Emma told her she was the most likely culprit, while Beans probably cheered her on.  Jo was instructed to make Emma vomit by administering hydrogen peroxide orally.

                                Always diligent, Jo followed through as directed, then scooped Emma up for a trip to the emergency clinic for further stomach evacuation, followed by a night of intravenous fluids.   Emma, like Jo, is very diligent at her chosen profession of eating things she should not, so her stomach emptying revealed an abundance of chocolaty fluid, plastic pieces, and hair/carpet fibers. Oh yeah, did I mention that Emma also likes to enjoy snacks from Jo’s pond, including blue-green algae?

                                The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC)  fields 150,000 calls a year for animal-related toxicities like Emma’s.  With this in mind, I thought I would share these tips from veterinary emergency and critical care specialist, Dr. Justine A. Lee.

1)      Crate train your dog.  In your absence, dogs often become lonely, anxious or bored.  What dogs do to soothe or entertain themselves while you’re away is often detrimental to their health.  Keep them and your possessions safe!  Dogs were den animals in the wild; close enclosures are their “home” and will provide security for them when you’re gone. 

2)      Hang up your purse/briefcase/backpack.  Consider the following contents that may be found in these hand bags:  prescription drugs, NSAIDs (e.g.Tylenol), sugar-free gum (xylitol), coins, cell phone batteries, snack-sized raisin boxes.  All of the above can be intriguing, yet deadly to snoopy pets. 

3)      Store human medications away from pet medications.  All veterinarians receive phone calls from panicked pet owners who accidentally give their pet their own human medication (e.g. heart and blood pressure medications, anti-depressants and NSAIDs).   This accidental pet poisoning comes with both distress and guilt, but is readily avoided by storing human and pet medications in totally different areas. 

4)      Store weekly pill holders in elevated, secured cabinets.  Bear in mind that the noise these plastic pill containers make mimics that of a pet chew toy that rattles.  This “fun” discovery by a curious pet often results in intoxication with an array of vitamins and medications, multiplying the severity of the pet poisoning exponentially. 

5)      Stop storing pills in plastic bags.  These temporary storage containers when tossed without thinking into open suitcases are “easy game” for pets because of their hugely magnified sense of smell.  

6)      Keep chewable pet medications out of reach.  The trend in veterinary medicine has been to make pet medications as palatable as possible, especially NSAIDs, heart and heartworm preventive medications and joint supplements that pets take regularly.  When pets smell a tasty, familiar aroma, consuming the entire bottle is a “no-brainer.” 

7)      Supervise pets when outdoors and in garages.  These areas harbor multiple pet poisons, including rodenticides, fertilizers, compost, gasoline, motor oil, kerosene and antifreeze.  Secure these items up high in cabinets and closely supervise pets when they are outside. Better yet, keep pets out of garages entirely. 

8)      Put your veterinarian’s and the ASPCA  APCC’s phone numbers on your speed dial.  This will give you ready access to expedient emergency advice 24/7.  The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center number is 888-426-4435.  Time is of the essence when it comes to pet poisonings! 

9)      Download the FREE ASPCA  APCC app. This is a simple process that gives you fast, easy access to common pet toxicities in a user friendly app for your cell phone. With the press of a widget, you are seconds away from searching by species and the name of the intoxicant that your pet ingested.

                          As for Emma and Beans, fondly dubbed “The Raisinettes,” both are being carefully observed, repeatedly monitored, and are currently doing well due to Jo’s quick thinking and actions.